Today we celebrated my baby girls second birthday. Every birthday with your kids is a gift. When I am recalling today’s events, I can’t help but we relive two years ago.

Two years ago I was in the NICU and my wife was resting and recovering. I was starring at my little angel through the glass cube she was in, covered in cords, surrounded by beeping machines, and being prepped for her first of multiple surgeries. I was fighting depression thoughts of losing to cystic fibrosis and being laid off. I wasn’t 100% certain she would be leaving the hospital and I did not know how we could pay the doctors. How could I explain all this to her brothers? It was a harsh but good reminder that I’m not in control of my life or hers. Grace was released from the NICU 70 days later and a gofundme led by a youth group teen kept collections away from us for that season. The Lord blessed us!

Two years later we are home celebrating the past two years. She had her sweet smile going as she ate cake and opened presents. She is so full of life! Even though she was having a blast, she was still battling CF. She has had a cough and been very congested this past week including today. She’s not on her “A” game but through it all she still was smiling and having a blast. She is so strong!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord has blessed her. He has blessed us the past two years. I believe He will continue to bless her. As I write this, I hear her coughing in her bedroom while she sleeps. It’s a reminder that we cannot take for granted His blessings. Celebrate them. Celebrate the big stuff like a birthday. Celebrate the little stuff like watching the same Mickey Mouse Club house episode for the 31st time with your daughter! Embrace His blessing, grace, and peace that He wants to give to you today…like he has given to Grace.

Don’t take today’s blessing for granted! Celebrate then today! BTW…if you read these posts some day, Grace you are a brave little princess warrior and I love you. Happy Birthday #2 baby girl!